The role of afferents from the low-pressure system in the release of antidiuretic hormone during non-hypotensive hemorrhage

Moderate hemorrhage insufficient to reduce seriously the pulse pressure, had no effect on the total flow of afferent impulses per unit time from stretch receptors of the high-pressure system (systemic circulation). However, it sharply reduced the flow from the atrial receptors of the low-pressure system (lesser circulation). Thus acute non-hypotensive blood volume loss permits a differentiation between the effects of the stretch receptors in the two divisions of the cardiovascular system. Eleven conscious animals were trained to lie quietly with catheters in the femoral vessels. The loss of no more than 10–20% of the estimated blood volume led to a sharp drop in atrial stretch receptor firing. Measurements of blood ADH showed variable increases which in most cases were to significant levels. Other aspects of cardiovascular and fluid volume regulation were affected by changes in firing of stretch receptors in the low-pressure system. They include the tachycardia of non-hypotensive hemorrhage and changes in kidney function with atrial distension.